Rail coupling



J. V. PALMER bril 22, 1930.

RAIL COUPLING Filed Oct. 1'7 19 40 a notch 8 substantially rectangular in shape. in binding engagement with the upper end 12 Patented Apr. 22 6 j I g g, I r V r 1 UPETYET .TA'TES, PATENT OFFICE'Y, -1

JOHN v. PALMER, or rI'rTsBURGH, PE NsYLvANIAfASSIGNoR or. ome

PENNSYLVANIA 1 A a RAIL COUPLING I Y Application filed October 17, 1928. Serial No. 313,129. 1

1 This invention'relates to an improved rail The flanges 12 are each provided with curved coupler. A, V upper 'faces'ofdiiferentradius, and theflanges Y One object of the invention is to provide 12 terininate'flush with the side wallsof the a rail coupler which will effectually retain chair plate The upper flanges closely") the meeting ends of railroad rails in coupled overlie the flanges 7. The lower flanges 13 55 relation. g j are provided with horizontal top faces lying 'Another object of the invention is to proagainst the bottom faces of theflanges 7 and vide a rail coupler which will eliminate'the the flanges 13 are tapered from' end to end use of nuts, washers, or the like for connectto define laterally and longitudinally" ining the rail ends. 1 V clined-bottom' faces resting flat against the 0- A further object of the invention is to proupper faces of the base flanges 2 of the rails. vide a rail coupler which may be easily in- Thus the bottom flanges 13 tightlywedge stalled and which will not work loose when between the flanges 7 of the chair plate and in position. i i thefla-nges 2' of therails so that thewedge ther objects of theinvention not specifi plates limit the rail ends against upward 65 cally mentioned in the foregoing will be ap displacement in the chair plate.- The bodies parent during the course 'ofthe following of the wedge plates engage the rail webs for description. 7 bracing the rail ends against lateral move In the'accompanying drawingsi I ment. Formed in the bodies of the wedge Figure l is a perspective view'showing the plates are recesses 14 and extending through 70 device in position, I I 1 said recesses is a conventional conductor 15v Figure Qisa top plan view of the device, for carrying the curent required-to operate Figure 3 isa sectional view of the device signals and the like. Formed medially in on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the the upper flanges of the wedge plates at the 5 direction indicated by the arrows, junction of the curved top faces thereof are Figure 4 is a perspective viewshowing more openings 16 and fitting through said openings clearly the chair plate employed in the deinto the notches of. the chair plate are keys 17 vice, 7 7 substantially square in shape. Figure 5 is a perspective viewshowing The keys are provided with heads having. more clearly the openings provided-in the knob like projections 18 at the rear ends meeting end portions of the rails. thereof and, as will'be observed, the keys are Referring HOW m re particuarly to the curved longitudinally so that when said keys drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the meetare driven into place, the lower ends thereof ing end portions of railroad rails provided bind in the notches 8 of the chair plate While v with flanges 2,'webs 3, and openings 4:- the projections 18 of the heads of the keysgare be 1 I employ asubstantially rectangular chair forced beneath the rail tread to bind against plate 5 having abottom wallfi and inwardly he lower corners thereof for locking the keys disposed overhanging flanges 7 Formed against accidental upward retraction as well medially in the nner edge of each flange is as locking the upper end portions of-said keys Formed on. the bottom wall 6 and disposed at portions of the walls of the openings 16 of g each end portion thereof'are pairs ofupthe wedge plates. Accidental release of the standing studs 9 loosely engaging in the openkeys such as might be caused by v1brationw1ll I ings t of the rails 1, said studs being slightly thus be prevented. However, the heads of u smaller in diameter than the openings to the keys are provided with notches 19 to ac- 9w 7 provide for expansion and contraction of the cfimpgodate a suitable tool for withdrawing rails. p 1 .t e 'eys. I

Associated with the chairplate 5 are wedge In use, the meeting ends of two ra ls are a plates 10 having bodies 11 and flanges 12-and inserted in the chair plate with the" studs 13 straddling the flanges 7 of the chair plate. loosely fitting in. the openings 4:. The wedge m plates are then inserted and driven in until the openings 16 align with the notches 8. The keys 1? are then inserted and driven into position for locking the Wedge plates against retraction so that the rails l are securely connected iinjoin'ed pqsition. Having thus described the invention; I claim: V

1. Avrail coupling including, in combina- 10 with having fianges, a plate having overhanging flanges provided: with notches, wedge plates en aging in the chair plate and having upper flanges, said itpp er' I flanges being provided with-openingsto align 15 with the notches in the ch ai r'p late when the Wedge plates are (lll'VQIl into 150818011; and keys ex'tending-through the op eni'ngsanci: into the n'otehs andloek'ing the Wedge plates in 7 position, said keys being?! long-itndinally rnrv d to coaet With the walls, of said opening or loekin g the 'keys' agains't retraction.

2. A -a-il coupling inelndin-g, in combinatijon with rails having. Webs; treads and" 'flanges, a chain plate having overhanging flanges; Wed-0e p-l-ates ha ving bedies engaging the Webs of the rails and bottomflanges tapered t-o Wedge between said fianfles ofthe' (:1 "ii" plate and'the flanges of the nails fox: limiting the rails against displaeenient, and head 2d keys loeking the Wedge plates in position? and being l'ongitu'di-nally cnfi'ved to enact with said- Wedge' plates and Wi-thflthe; chaii plate foi bindingj the' heads of said keys in engagement with the rail treads for locksaid keys against reti a'ction. Th testimony wher eof I signature.

JOHN v, PALMER. Ens] I 

